SHILLONG, June 21 - The fifth International Yoga Day was celebrated all over the State with organisations and institutions holding mass yoga sessions. Security and defence organisations were at the forefront in observing the day.
�Yoga is now a normal routine in the BSF to keep our men physically fit and mentally alert,� BSF�s Meghalaya Frontier Public Relations Officer, UK Nayal, said.
The Eastern Air Command headquarters also celebrated the occasion. The programme was inaugurated by Air Vice Marshal Pawan Mohey. The Assam Rifles organised a yoga session attended by more than 1,000 soldiers and their family members. Volunteers from the Patanjali Yogpeeth here conducted the session.
The Indian Institute of Management organised a three-day yoga workshop. The North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy also celebrated the day at Mawdiangdiang.
Itanagar Correspondent adds: The International Yoga Day was celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh with mass yoga demonstration and practice sessions across the hilly State on Friday.
Governor Brig (Dr) BD Mishra (retd) and his wife participated in the Yoga Day event at the Yupia campus of the National Institute of Technology (NIT). A large number of people, including students from the NIT-AP, NERIST, Rajiv Gandhi University and Don Bosco College, Jullang, and civil and police officers participated in the event.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu celebrated the Yoga Day with his Cabinet colleagues, legislators and others at the State Civil Secretariat.
Imphal Correspondent adds: The Yoga Day was widely observed in Manipur on Friday. The State-level function was held at the indoor stadium of the Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal.
Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla and her staff observed the day at the Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, other ministers, MLAs, the Chief Secretary and the DGP led more than 1,000 officials and individuals in the yoga session.
Aizawl Correspondent adds: The International Yoga Day was celebrated across the Christian-dominated State of Mizoram with no visible opposition from the influential churches and the NGOs which opposed it last year. The event was organised by the State Directorates of AYUSH and Youth Affairs and Sports. The main celebration at Lammual (Assam Rifles ground) was attended by Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo.
Over 1,860 people, including personnel from the Assam Rifles, Army, CAPFs, police, NCC cadets, representatives of government departments, NGOs and students participated in yoga mass practice.
Earlier, the Assam Rifles organised a two-week yoga workshop at Aizawl.
Tura Correspondent adds: The Yoga Day was also observed under the theme, �Yoga for Heart�, at Tura. During the function, different yoga asanas were demonstrated. The Deputy Commissioner, medical officers and other yoga enthusiasts joined the event.
PTI adds from Kohima: Nagaland Governor PB Acharya on Friday performed yoga along with other participants in a function of the International Yoga Day in Kohima. In message on the occasion, Acharya expressed the hope that people�s participation in the movement initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi would continue to promote a healthy mind and body.
PTI adds from Gangtok: The fifth International Yoga Day was celebrated in Sikkim on Friday. Hundreds of people, including ministers and officials, performed stretching exercises at a public event.
At a mass yoga demonstration at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, Sikkim Governor Ganga Prasad was the chief guest. Speaker LB Das was also present there.
